Gee pitches 6 no-hit innings for Mets

Houston Astros starting pitcher Scott Feldman throws during the first inning of a spring exhibition baseball game against the New York Mets in Kissimmee, Fla., Wednesday, March 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Carlos Osorio

March 28, 2014

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) Dillon Gee pitched six-innings of no-hit ball Wednesday night in his final tuneup before opening day, but the Houston Astros rallied for a 9-6 victory over the New York Mets.

Jose Valverde, named the Mets' setup man earlier Wednesday, gave up two runs in the eighth, one of them unearned. The Mets optioned right-hander Vic Black to the minor leagues.

The 36-year-old Valverde, who has 286 career saves, signed a minor league contract on Feb. 12. The Mets moved them to the 40-man roster on Wednesday.

''He's going to hopefully be that bridge to (closer Bobby Parnell),'' said manager Terry Collins. ''And on those nights when Bobby's going to need a night off, it's Jose who's going to pick up the slack.''

The Astros settled on left fielder Robbie Grossman as the No. 2 hitter in their lineup.

The 24-year-old, switch-hitting Grossman will experience his first major league opening day on Tuesday when the Astros play the New York Yankees. He had two stints with the Astros last season and hit .322 over his last 35 games.

''I expected some of the guys who have been here more time to hit more at the top of the order,'' Grossman said. ''That was my personal goal to be near the top of the order, and I knew I had to put in my time before that could happen.''

He has hit .362 with one home run in 19 exhibition games.

''In the beginning of the spring that wasn't the plan, but Robbie Grossman continued to swing the bat well,'' Porter said. ''He's always been a high on-base guy and the overall goal is to try and get as many guys on base as possible in front of Jason (Castro) and (Jose) Altuve, arguably our two best hitters.''